Short filler bunch machine



Dec. 24, 1940. H. E. CARLSON 2,226,370

SHORT FILLER BUNCH MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1957 2 sheets sheet 1 143 HJALMAR E.C LSON 1 130 BY @Zly 13.9 7

ATI'ORN EY Dec. 24, 1940.. E, CARLSQN I 2,226,370

' SHORT FI LER BUNCH MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1957' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v HJALMAR E.CARLSON I BY W M1 ATTORNEY. I

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 SHORT FILLER BUNCH MACHINE Hjalmar E. Carlson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a

corporation of New Jersey Application November 26, 1937, Serial No. 176,594

7 Claims.

This invention relates to scrap bunch cigar machines, more particularly to an improved tobacco feed for the same. Heretofore, rotary tobacco feeds have been provided with drums wherein the tobacco has simply tumbled over and over before removal of a charge, with the result that small scrap accumulated in the bottom of the drum and the larger pieces were fed out first. The main object of the same is to avoid this disadvantage of prior rotary feeds. In the particular embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the tobacco is placed into a hopper leading the same into a slowly and continuously rotating cylindrical drum provided with internal axially extending vanes which serve to pick up the tobacco at the bottom of drum and carry it upwardly and dump it downwardly on to an intermittently driven conveyor belt extending into the drum. In the present construction, therefore, the small scrap will be picked up with the large scrap without any tendency for the latter to accumulate in the bottom, wherefore small, large or mixed small and large scrapwill be handled equally well and the small and large scraps will be evenly mixed. The belt moves intermittently for advancing a quantity of tobacco loosely deposited thereon, slightly in excess of the amount required for one cigar bunch, under a leveling mechanism and intoa chute directingthe same to the measuring chamber of the machine.

After a charge has been leveled and delivered to the chamber a cam operated door or gate of the measuring chamber is closed and the column of loose tobacco therein is pushed by a horizontally slidable spring-tensioned plunger into a chargemeasuring pocket of the general type disclosed in the Reissue Patent 20,334, granted to Gladeck, et al., dated April 20,1937, wherein it is thereby compressed to theproper density determined by the adjustmentof the plunger spring. A further obj ect is to stop the movement of the feed-in belt and drum when. there is an oversupply of tobacco in the chamber, and for this purpose the driving mechanism thereof is controlled by the compacting plunger of the measuring chamber.

The means for closingrthe measuring chamber gate also swings a chute about its pivot and deposits the tobacco in a uniform layer. in the chamher. The chute is-so constructed that its wide 'upper walls converge into anarrow point at the exit end and thus force the elongated scraps into a position extending across the width of the chute with all the long scraps having their greatest dimensions extending in-the same direction, which constitutes another objective of the invention. Incorporated approximately midway in the chute is a shutter which is urged into closed position by a coil spring when the chute is swung inwardly, said shutter covering the discharge opening while the measuring chamber gate is closed, thus catchhaving a run of bunches consisting mostly of long scrap interspersed with runs of bunches having mostly short scrap. With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in View, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter described and'claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts: Fig. 1 is a partial side view of the short filler bunch machine selected to illustrate. the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. f

Referring to'the drawingathe side frames H] of the machine support a table I I provided with a pair of pedestals l2 and I3 to which are fastened the stationary end walls l4 and 15, respectively, of the revolving cylindrical drum IS. A hopper ll into which'the tobacco may be dumped is attached to the rearwall l5 and communicates with a suitable opening in said wall whereby the tobacco is deposited in the interior of the drum.

Each set of pedestals Hand 13 support a stationary shaft l8 on which, are loosely mounted rollers l 9 engaging the circular channel bands 20 encircling the drum IB'and thereby supporting the same. A sprocket -2I secured on a shaft 22 supported in side frames 10 and suitably driven in a manner which need not be shown, drives a chain 23 running over a sprocket 24 loosely mounted on a shaft 25 carried by a bracket ZEifastened on table I l. A ratchet wheel 27 fastened tosprocket 24-is provided with a pawl28 held in engagement with ratchet 21 by a leaf spring 29 and imparting motionto an arm 30 fastened on shaft 25. Shaft 25 carries abevel gear 3| meshing with a bevel gear 32 fixed on a shaft 33. Over a sprocket 34 mounted on the latter runs a chain-i5 driving a sprocket 36 which is integral witha sprocket 31 loosely mounted on shaft l8. The latter sprocket drives an endless chain 38 fitting tautly in the channel band 39 and imparts motion to the drum I6. Shaft 33 at one end is journaled in bracket 26, and its other end is mounted in a bracket 49 which also supports shaft I8.

A sprocket 4| fixed on a shaft 42 supported in the side frames of the machine is intermittently driven as will be hereinafter described, and transmits intermittent motion to a shaft 43 by a chain 44 running over a sprocket 45 fixed on said shaft. Shaft 43 is supported by brackets 49 and 41 attached to the front wall I4 of the drum. To these brackets are fastened bars 48 and 49 which extend axially into the drum I6 and support the rear shaft 59 of the conveyor belt 5|. A plate 52 connecting the bars 48 and 49 serves as a supporting member for the upper loop of the conveyor belt. Belt 5| is driven by a pulley 53 fixed on shaft 43 and runs over an idler pulley 54 mounted on shaft 50.

The continuously rotating drum I6 is provided with a plurality of spaced vanes or scoops 55 projecting inwardly from the inner periphery of said drum and serving to pick up the tobacco scrap T and dump the same on to the intermittently driven conveyor belt 5|. The belt 5|, when in motion, transports the tobacco deposited thereon under a series of revolving rakes or fingers 56 which level or trim the tobacco to predetermined thickness and return the surplus tobacco back into the drum. Thus, a uniform layer of loose tobacco emerges through a rectangular opening 5! in the wall I4 and is delivered to a chute leading to the measuring chamber of the machine which will be presently described. Vertical plates 58 and 59 extending along the upper run of the belt 5| and supported by brackets 46 and 4! respectively, form a discharge chamber therealong for the tobacco. The inner ends of the plates 58 and 59 extend inwardly through the opening 51 and terminate in tail-like portions 60 which permit the excess tobacco to flow over these tails when it is pushed back by the fingers 56. The bars 48 and 49 may carry strips 6| and 62, respectively, which rest on the upper loop of the belt 5| to prevent the tobacco from falling off the belt and also may be extended around the pulley 53 to prevent tobacco particles from getting between the belt and pulley 53 at the discharge end of the conveyor.

The fingers 56 are mounted on a shaft 63 disposed above the plates 58 and 59 and carried by arms 64 and 65 adjustably mounted on a stationary shaft 69 and fastened thereon by a set screw or the like (not shown) whereby said fingers may be raised and lowered with respect to the conveyor belt 5| to permit a stream of the desired thickness of scrap tobacco to be delivered. Shaft 63 is provided with a sprocket 61 driven from a sprocket 68 by a chain 69, sprocket 68 being fastened to a sprocket I loosely mounted on shaft 56 andsprocket I9 being driven by a chain II running over a sprocket I2 fixed on the intermittently driven shaft 43.

When the belt advances it causes the tobacco to fall from its exit end into a funnel I5, which is attached to the outer ends I6 of the bars 48 and 49.1eading it into a chute I! which directs the tobacco scrap to the measuring chamber I8. The front wall of the chute II slopes inwardly toward the rear wall, and the latter terminates in a curved extension I9 which initially engages the opened gate of the measuring chamber or may be appropriately secured thereon to leave a narrow gap at its lower end, so that the elongated scraps of tobacco entering the apex between these members are forced to assume a position extending transversely of the chute and also while dropping down through said gap into the measuring chamber I8 in the event such a gap is present. The chute is swingably mounted at its upper end on a cross rod 89 supported by projecting lugs 8| of brackets 49 and 41. A strap 82 secured to a projecting flange 83 of chute II, supports one end of a link 84 connected to a link 85 fastened on a rockshaft 86. An arm 81 on shaft 85 is pivotally connected to an eye 88 of a rod 89 which is suitably actuated by a cam (not shown), to swing said chute from under the funnel I5. The turning of rock-shaft 88 also opens and closes the measuring chamber gate 99 which is mounted thereon and fits snugly between the adjustable upright side walls 9| of the inlet of the chamber. The curved portion I9 of, the chute, which also fits snugly between the walls 9|, then approaches the gate 99 to engage the same or leave a narrow gap, and retreats after the tobacco is deposited thereon, thereby depositing the latter uniformly in the measuring chamber. Chute I'I also supports a spout I54 fastened to the inner face of the rear wall of the chute and carrying a rock shaft I55 equipped with a shutter plate I56. Rock-shaft I55 is provided with a coil spring I39 which normally maintains the plate I56 in a horizontal position. The shaft I55 also carries at one end a trip arm I51 which engages a stop screw I58 carried by a strap I59 secured to one of the walls 9| whereby the shutter is turned upwardly and opened as the chute approaches the opened gate of the measuring chamber. When the chute I! is swung inwardly back to initial position, the coil spring I80 closes the shutter, thereby arresting any tobacco which may dribble from the feed belt 5| and prevent it from falling on to the measuring gate 99, after the same has been closed. When the chute again returns to its previous position ready to receive tobacco, the shutter is opened by screw I58 and permits any tobacco which may have accumulated on the shutter to fall into the measuring chamber.

The tobacco T delivered by the belt 5| into the measuring chamber I8 is pushed into .a charge transfer (not shown) and compacted therein to the desired density, is of the general type disclosed in the above mentioned patent. The charge transfer forms a continuation of the measuring chamber, and the tobacco is pushed into it by a plunger 92 attached to a rod 93 slidably mounted in a lug 94 of slide 95 mounted on a rail 96. A spring 91 on the rod 93 is seated against the rear end of plunger 92 and may be adjusted to the desired tension by a bearing against spring 9! and thumb-screw 98 threaded into the lug 94 and a plate 99 guided at its lower end in a slotted portion of slide 95, the adjustment of the tension of spring 91 thus regulating the density of the tobacco compressed by the plunger 92. Slide 95 is connected by a link I99 (Fig. 2) to a cam lever I9I which by suitable means is actuated from a cam (not shown) to move the plunger to and fro.

The extent of movement of the feed belt 5| in each cycle is so adjusted, by means to be presently described, that a surplus of tobacco is delivered to the measuring chamber. Thus, after the column of tobacco in the chamber I8 has been compressed and a bunch charge severed from the column there is still a quantity of. compressed tobacco left in the measuring chamber. In the next cycle, as the belt advances, another charge of tobacco is delivered to the measuring chamber. Thus the excess tobacco Will -continue to accumulate in the measuring chamber-and from'time to time will prevent plunger 92 from reaching the end of its predetermined stroke. At such times an adjustable screw I02 attached to the lug 94 will fail to engage a trip lever I03 placed in its path and thus preventing the feed belt 5| from moving during the next cycle of the machine and discontinuingdelivery of tobacco until the measuring chamber is cleared of excess tobacco.

The trip lever I03 is pivoted on a stud I04 in bracket I05 and fastened to a rocker arm I06. A torsion spring I'I anchored in the head of the stud is attached to the trip I03 and normally maintains it inthe path of the screw I02. The arm I06 is connected tojalink I08 pinned to one end of an arm I09 attached to a pivotshaft IIO supported on lugs III of table II. On the other end of shaft I I0 is fastened an arm II2 pivotally connected to one end of a link 3 pinned to a latch II4 fulcrumed on a'stud H5 in one side frame I0. The latch H4 is provided with a shoulder I I6 (Fig. 1) adapted to engage the upper end of a lever II 'I pivotally mounted on a stud 8 supported in the side frame of the machine.

' Lever m is equipped with a cam piece I I9 which is normally maintained by the latch in the position shown with its high portion I20 inposition to engage roller I2I and stop the drive of a sprocket I22, as will now be described, shortly before the measuring chamber gate is closed during compaction of the tobacco. Roller I2I is carried by a finger I23 mounted on a pintle I24 secured in arm I25 loosely mounted on drive shaft 22. Finger I23 has a notch I26 adapted to engage a dog I21 secured in the rotating disk I28 fixed on shaft 22 and normally held in engagement therewith to thereby turn arm I 25 and the sprocket I22 fastened to said arm.

When sprocket I22 turns it drives a chain I30 running over a sprocket I 3| loose on a stationary shaft I 32 supported in the side frames I 0. An arm I33 loosely mounted on shaft I32 is provided with a stud I34 on the outer end of which is pivotally mounted a finger I35 provided with a cam roller I36 adapted successively to engage the raised lobe I31 formed by relatively adjustable stationary cams I38 and I39, thus disengaging the pawl I40, which is fastened to finger I35, from the ratchet wheel I 4| loose on shaft I 32. Pawl I40 is secured to the inner end of stud I34, which passes through sprocket I3I, and is normally held in engagement with ratchet wheel MI by a spring I42 and thereby imparts motion to its attached sprocket I43 and drives a chain I44 running over a sprocket I45 fixed on shaft 42. The sprocket 4| on the latter drives the chain 44, thereby imparting motion to the feed belt 5! and fingers 56.

The cam I38 is fixed on shaft I32 and has fastened thereto the adjustable cam I39 provided with elongated slots I46 through which the bolts I41 pass. Thus resetting of the cam I39 with respect to cam I 38, is permitted and when the relation of the cams is correctly set, they may be locked together by bolts I41. It will be seen that if cam I39 is moved in a clockwise direction, the pawl will remain in engagement with the ratchet for a greater period of time and drive belt 5| longer than when the cam I38 is adjusted in a counter-clockwise direction. In this manner the belt 5| can be adjusted to advance a greater or lesser distance, thereby delivering more or less tobacco to the measuring chamber to suit the When the lever I03 is tripped by screw I02 the latch H4 is disengaged from lever Ill and permits a spring I50 to pull said lever against a stop pin I5I carried by latch H4 and thereby move the high portion I20 of cam piece 9 out of. the pathof roller I2I, permitting the driving members I23, I21 to remain engaged and feed additional tobacco to the measuring chamber during the next cycle of the machine. As the screw I02 retreats, the spring I01 tends to return the lever I03 to its previous position, permitting a spring I52 to reset the latch against lever II'I as a roller I53 carried by the driving disk I28 engages the inner face of cam H9 and restores it to its initial position. Roller I53 is suitably arranged to engage and reset cam II9 during eachrevolution of disk I28, in the event it has been tripped.

Since the drum I6 rotates very slowly, provision is made for manually turning said drum rap idly to cause the scoops 55 to shower tobacco on to the feed belt 5| at the start of a new run. This is accomplished by providing shaft 25 (Fig. 2) with a pin I6I adapted to engage a notch I62 of a crank handle I63 shown in dotted lines. Upon turning handle I63 in a clockwise direction shaft I8 is driven through'bevel gears 3|, 32 and chain drive 35, thereby imparting motion to the chain 38 and turning drum I6.

It may be noted that the belt is disposed to one side of the center of the drum, wherefore tumbling of the tobacco supply against the belt is prevented. If the belt were centrally arranged and the level of tobacco were high enough, the vanes 55 might tumble the tobacco against the belt and break up long scraps. measuring chamber and bunch rolling mechanism will be located nearer the molding or concentrator turret, so that the attendant may transfer the rolled bunches to the turret more conveniently.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a measuring chamber, of spaced members arranged to guide tobacco into said chamber, and means for dumping quantities of scrap tobacco between said members for delivery to said chamber, said members providing a gap of such a width that the longer scraps will be turned, in passing therethrough, into a position extending transversely of the measuring chamber.

2. The combination with a measuring chamber provided with a door movable from a closed position into an upright position to admit tobacco to said chamber, of a pivoted chute adapted to swing into position adjacent the upright door to deliver tobacco to the measuring chamber and then away from the door to permit closure thereof, a device for actuating said door, means for delivering a quantity of tobacco to said chute while it is in position adjacent the upright door, a shutter pivotally mounted on said chute and normally closed to prevent dribbling of tobacco, and a stop arranged to engage said shutter and open the same when the chute is swung into position adjacent the upright gate.

3. The combination with a measuring chamber provided with a door adapted to move outwardly to admit tobacco to the chamber, of a device for actuating said door, a pivoted chute arranged to deliver tobacco to said chamber and provided ,withan extension arranged to approach the Moreover the chute to cause its extension to approach and retreat from the opened door. I

4. The combination with a measuring chamber, of a rotary drum adapted to receive a supply of scrap tobacco and provided with internal vanes adapted to pick up tobacco and carry it upwardly therein, an endless traveling belt arranged Within said drum to receive tobacco from said vanes and adapted to feed tobacco to said chamber, means for compacting the tobacco in said chamber, mechanism intermittently driving said belt and controlled by said means for interrupting the movement of said belt whenever there is an oversupply of tobacco in said chamber, said mechanism being adjustable to regulate the extent of advancing movement of said belt.

5. The combination with a rotary drum adapted to receive a supply of scrap tobacco and provided with internal members adapted to carry tobacco upwardly therein, an endless traveling belt arranged within said drum to receive quantities of tobacco from said members, rotary rakes for leveling to a predetermined thickness the tobacco so deposited on said belt and pushing the surplus tobacco backward on the belt, mechanism 'for intermittently driving said belt, and means for revolving the drum about said belt at such a speed that a surplus of tobacco is depositedon the belt in each cycle.

'6. The combination with a rotary drum having an end wall adapted to admit a supply of tobacco and provided with internal members adapted to carry tobacco upwardly therein, an endless traveling belt arranged within said drum to receive quantities of tobacco from said members, a slotted wall having an opening through which said-belt passes, rotary rakes for leveling to a predetermined thickness the tobacco so received on said belt, and said rakes moving inward through said slots to return surplus tobacco to the interior of said drum, and strips extending inwardly along said belt from said rakes and provided with tapered inner ends overwhich surplus tobacco may flow and drop down into the drum.

7. The combinationjwith a rotary drum having a horizontal axis and adapted to receive a supply of scrap tobacco in its bottom and'provided with internal vanes extending generally in the direction of rotation of the drum to provide pockets wherein tobacco is lodged at the bottom of said supply, an'endless traveling belt having a horizontal upper run entering the interior of said drum at a position above said supply and underlying the side of drum whereon said vanes have'a downward movement, whereby the tobacco may drop from said pockets on to said run.

HJALMAR E. CARLSON. 

